Mechanical toy



MECHANICAL TOY Y Filed June 26, 1945 2 sheets-shear. 1

, VQ/m; MM

Aug.. 20, 1946'. w, Msj-[EL v2,406,283

` MECHANICAL Tourv v Filed June 26, 1945 y'z-shaets-snem rneyfs.'

Patented Aug. 20, 1946 .This invention relates in general to. toyshaving the appearance of animals: Moreespecially, thetoyfofthissinvention relates tormechanism including the .hindrandforelegs and -a common'elementlassociated .withboth pairs of legsfand asa iesultof whichthe toy is given a peculiarly natural simulated runningmovement. This improved-toyhas a .motion peculiarly suggestive yof thenatural running movementjof a rabbit. The operation of vthe parts iswell adapted to incorporation ina toy rabbit, although the mechanism isnot rlimitedto the representation of-arabbittypeoftc'y. l I I` f 4'Amongother features contributing vto the appearance of a realrunningmovement, details `of the 'mechanism include a rocker elementwhich is operated by the hind legs and which in turn serves tomanipulate the forelegs.

Another feature which contributes to the appearance of running is thelocation of a tail at and on the rear ofthe hind legs. A stubby tailsuggestive of a rabbits tail is moved when the hind legs are moved, andcontributes the suggestion of a running eifect when the toy rabbit ismoved forward.

In general, the type of toy in which the present improvements areincorporated is of that variety in which a wheel is eccentricallypivoted to the body part of the toy so as to thus provide a recurrent upand down movement to the rear end of the body and to the hind legs.

The foregoing and additional features and details will be clear from thefollowing specification and claims, when considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a toy rabbit in which the mechanismof this invention is incorporated;

Fig. '2 is a top plan view of the toy shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. Y1. but With a rearportion broken away to illustrate the position of the hind legs at thetime they serve to manipulate the forelegs Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the several views Vin the drawings, likereference characters identify like parts in the several views.

I is the body of the toy animal, and in this present instance a rabbit.2 are the forelegs which are pivoted at 2a to the body I, therebesolaires; (omit- 4194i f 2 ins `one les on eachsidenfthe:uprehtvelement I comprising the body. The pivotrneans Zdcornfprises`apin Whichfextends through both legs and throughthe body. j 5A y.-7 y The rearlegs arefindicated at 3 and these rlegs t are pivotallysecured to the ,body at a pointtof` ward theirrear and upper portion, bymeans of a pin 3a which extends through both legsy and through the bodyportion I. Itwillbeobserved from Figs. 2.and 5` that-gonegofj eachofthelpgs 3 areoneachsideofthebodyI. Means fori actuating `the ,legs issupplied bya wheel i4.l which islocated within, the recess Ala provided,in.; the `central lower and rear ;r a rtY of the body I .The recess,` ila isv hidden from view f laterally. The upper.` wall of the recess isyindi-'- catedjatf Iza inligs.` Land The' Wheel 4 yisoccentricallymounted, that is pivotally mounted at a point eccentric to its center bymeans of a pin 4a which passes through the body at either side of theWheel and through the wheel as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The extremeends of the pin 4a are hidden from view by the legs 3.

Means for holding the toy normally in an up.. right position areprovided by wheels 5 which are mounted on axle 8 which extends throughthe body just rearwardly of the forelegs, and slightly below theirpivotal point 2a. The wheels are spaced from the body portion by sleevesor spacing elements 9 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4L Movement of the hindlegs serves to actuate the forelegs through the instrumentality of arocker element in the natureV of a cam-like trigger 6, one ofeach ofwhich is positioned immediately beneath each of the v forelegs'and ismounted for rocking movement on the axle 8 (Fig, 4.) When the extremeforward ends of the hind legs 3, thus simulating the feet thereof,strike one end of the rocker elements 6, the latter is given a rockingmovement, and as result the opposite ends of the elements 6 actuate theforelegs 2 and provide them with a corresponding upward movement. Thenet effect, resultant of the movement v of the rear legs and subsequentmovement of the forelegs, is highly suggestive of the running movementof an animal, particularly the running movement of a rabbit.

The upwardmovement of the forelegs 2 is limited by means of a pin IIIwhich carries a roller or sleeve VII thereon. The pin extends throughthe legs from side to side and the roller or sleeve I I serves to spacethe legs apart and has a length about the same as the thickness ofthebody portion I. When the forelegs 2 are moved upward the roller orsleeve II will engage the under pornon of thebedy adjacent the threat tonmit the upward movement.

I3 which is carried by theV legs and extends bei t tween them as shownin Fig. 5. The rollerV I2 1 is adapted to engage `the periphery'of thewheel l 4 with the result .that the rotation-voithewheel. 4 andrecurrent rise; and fall oftlnf peripheryqA thereof serves to raisel andlower the rearlegs 3.

`VOne of the Vdistinctive features `of this iin-fzz proved 'toy animalis the location of the tail T whichY is shown inthe drawings asV atailsdf ai, 1..: rabbitk and which is mounted on and carriedy by @15g YAs shown FigSQ" 1 and 2, the tail 1 extends betweenprojeotons; i; tionthereof,r and means between said first mene the rear portion of thelegs.

from Vthe `rear legs 3 and extends across the: width lofthe spacebetween the'rear legs, asislown' In thefcustoniaryfhandlingf oftheV toyjofV this inventionittmay lie=plled by.l means lcifafstring ior^pnsedtby hand-. -As explained hereinbefore the rotation ofthe wheel 4 servesto raise'the I Y hindflegs: YThe eccentricl mounting of; the wheel 4ilikewise provides the rear portion of'the'body with an upand down`movement` suggestivey ofr running: lfrr Fig. .1l it will be: observedthatY the forel'eg's'- are substantially in`A their lowermost posiftionen@the,hindI regs are approximately-in their lowermost position.However,v in Fig: 3- itfwillbe.`

` Y noted thatv the forwardl end ofthe.Y hind; legsK liave VbeenV raisedand have moved past'the adjacent v position oftl'ielegsassh'owninFig-..33 i

in contrast to the position shown in Fig.V 1, is Y highly suggestive ofthev jumping movement of a rabbit. 'Ihe element 6 :may beeactuatedbytheV Y front end of the hind legs either on the'upward n orion' thedownward l ly mounted-fon said body, wheels connected to said y Y bodyto insure an upright positionja wheel eccen- .trically mounted adjacentthe rearr legs whereby rotation provides thererar'rpart of'saidbodynandY e 'sa-idrr'ear legs with recurrent fup and downY move-Y jment'asthe toy istmovedjprogressivelyforward y "and theY forward end ofsaid'legs are movedV up andV down toa greaterr degree than Vthefrearportione'wwheelsand movable with'saifdV body and pivotally mounted withrespect thereto for moving? said'` Torelegsi and adapted to be engagedbysaid rc'ea'rflegsz-to;actuatesaidtforelegs.v n v v 2. VIman animalVtypexof toy', a bodyfforeleg pivotally.` mounted .onr saidV body;- rearlegs pivota'e'.

ly mounte'd:.o1r'said' body, laterally positioned wheels'. one; eachpositioned at` opposite sidesz'of' said body, an axlepon whichgsai'dWheels are mountedge, rear wheel eocentrically mountedv on Y saidibodywherebyY rotation' of the wheel provides the rearf.part'oisaidbod'yvandsaidfl rear legs with recurrent up and' down movement as the toy isYmovedprogressively forward, andmeans mounted on said axle for movingsaid forelegs and adapted tofbe engaged by* said Vrear legs topengageand actuate Y'said forelegs.Y

IRVIN FISHEL.

